(MORGANTOWN, WV, Feb. 14) – The McKendree University men's water polo program kicked off their season this weekend with games in the Mid-Atlantic Western Division Water Polo Conference. The Bearcats dominated all four games, leaving them 4-0 heading into Conference Championships.
 
Game 1 Highlights
 
The Bearcats breezed through the first game with a 24-6 win over Washington & Jefferson College Saturday morning..
 
13 different Bearcats made their mark on the scoresheet, led by Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Columbia/Oviedo) with five. Andrew Serrano (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King) followed closely behind with four goals. Teammates Ethan Kochel (), Vlad Puskovitch (West Chester, PA/The Episcopal Academy), Abraham Allen (Webster Groves, MO/Webster Groves), and Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills) each scored two. Seven other players registered one goal for McKendree.
 
In the cage, senior Ori Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia) made 8/10 saves, while freshman Jimmy Cronin (Naperville, IL/Metea Valley High School) made 12/16 saves, holding the Presidents' to a low score of 6.
 
Game 2 Highlights
 
McKendree wrapped up Saturday evening game day with a close win over Gannon University 13-11.
 
Haygood led the team in scoring with four goals, while Jackson Spencer (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West) contributed three. Josh Carlson (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way West) and Rodriguez each registered two goals for the Bearcats. Meanwhile, Serrano and Michael Rojas () each scored once.
 
Scanlon made 13 out of 24 saves during the close game against the Knights.
 
Game 3 Highlights
 
The Bearcats swept Mount St. Mary's University 22-12 in the Sunday morning game.
 
In game 3, Haygood led the scoresheet with a fantastic seven goals. Rodriguez had four markers while Chava Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) had three. Allen, Spencer, and Serrano each contributed two goals for the win. While Adam Serrano (Riverside, CA/Summit View High School) and Rojas each had one marker on the score sheet.
 
Once again, Scanlon stopped 13 out of 25 shots on goal.
 
Game 4 Highlights
 
McKendree closed out the weekend with a win against Mercyhurst University 17-11.
 
For the second game in a row, Haygood led the Bearcats scoresheet with six markers. Andrew Serrano (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King) followed behind with three and Rodriguez two. Six players registered one goal for McKendree: Carlson, Puskovitch, Allen, Rojas, Noah Slack (), and Pedro Osorio (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon).
 
In the cage, Scanlon blocked 12 out of 23 shots made by the Lakers.

Next up for McKendree will be the Mid-Atlantic Western Region Conference Championships on February 27-28. The championships will be hosted by Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA.